Synchronizing device.



Patented June 20, 1916.

I mHlHlm mm.

Hifil THE COLUMBIA ILANOGRAPH ccn. WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM: B. JACKSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF 'IO DUGALD C. JACKSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SYNCHRONIZING- DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. J AOKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Synchronizing Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention pertains to synchronizing devices, 2'. 6., to devices for maintaining a driving shaft in synchronism, as to the number of operations performed in a given tune, with a governing mechanism.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 768,561, filed May 19, 1913, I have shown and described a means for maintaining a motor shaft in synchronism with a clock shaft, such means including a differential device, the movements of which, due to the variations of speed of the motor shaft, ef-

fecting the switching in and out of resistance from-a motor circuit. 1

It is an object of the present invention to provide another means for effecting a similar result, which will be simple in construction and effective in operation.

A device constructed in accordance with my present invention is described, by way of example, in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, of a schematic nature, of the device; Fig. 2 is a plan of a portion of the same; and Ifig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the following specification and in the several figures of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, T designates a time and wage recorder, or other mechanism required to be driven at a constant speed.

M designates an electric motor, the shaft M of which drives, as for instance through a chain h the recorder mechanism T.

P designates the pendulum pin of a clock mechanism, which pin supports a pendulum P I provide means whereby the shaft M is maintained, by means of the pendulum P in synchronism with the operations of the latter.

1O designates a standard having rotatably mounted thereon a vertical spindle 11 which Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 1916.

Serial No. 768,562.

is driven, through suitable gearing, from the motor shaft M The standard 10 also carries a bearing for a vertical shaft 12 which is driven, by means of a chain 13, from the spindle 11. The gearing between the motor shaft M and the vertical shaft 12 is such that, when the shaft M is rotated at the desired speed, the spindle 11 will rotate through one-quarter of a revolution for each backward and forward swing of the pendulum P The vertical shaft 12 is provided, at its upper end, with four outwardly extending arms 14, upon the front sides of which, in the direction of rotation, are mounted insulated contact strips 15, and upon therear sides of which are mounted insulated contact strips 16. The strips 15 are all connected with a contact ring 17 and the strips 16 are all connected with a contact ring 18. The rings 17 and 18 are carried by the shaft 12, and are insulated from each other and from the shaft 12.

The pendulum P carries, at its upper end, a brush P which, during the swinging of the pendulum, swings into and out of the spaces between the arms 14:. When the rotations of the motor shaft M are synchronous with the operations of the pendulum, the brush P will swing into and out of the spaces between each pair of arms 14 successively, without touching either a contact strip 15 or a contact strip 16. When, however, the motor shaft M begins to speed up, so as to be out of synchronism with the pen dulum, the shaft 10 will advance sufficiently, in a direction of rotation, to cause one of the strips 15 to strike against the brush P during the swinging movement of the latter. Likewise, when the speed of rotation of the shaft M decreases, so as to be out of synchronism with the pendulum, one of the con tact strips 16 will strike against the brush P I provide means whereby resistance is cut out of the field circuit of the motor M when one of the contact strips 15 makes contact with the brush P and resistance is inserted into the field circuit of the motor M when one of the contact strips 16 makes contact with the brush P Thus when the motor shaft M begins to speed up, resistance is cut out from the field circuit, thereby slowing down the motor again; and when the motor begins to slow down, resistance is inserted into the field circuit, thereby causing the motor to speed up again.

To the above end the ring 17 is connected, through a brush 20 with one terminal of a relay 21, the other terminal of this relay being connected with the pendulum P through a battery 22. The ring 18 is connected, through a brush 23, with one terminal of a second relay 2%, the other ter minal of which is also connected. with the pendulum P through the battery It will be seen, therefore, that when, owing to an increase in the speed of the motor shaft M one of the contact strips 15 makes contact with the pendulum brush P the relay 21 will be energized. Likewise, when the speed of the shaft M falls below the normal, the relay 24L will be energized. WVhen the relay 21 is energized, resistance is cut out of the field circuit of the motor M; and when the relay 24 is energized, resistance is inserted in the field circuit of the motor.

The stationary contacts 25 of the relay 21. are connected with the terminals of a solenoid winding 26, a battery 27 or other source of electric current being inserted into the circuit. Likewise, the stationary contacts 28 of the relay 24 are connected, through the battery 27, with a second solenoid winding 29. The ends 30 and 31 of a rack 32 form the cores of the solenoid windings 26 and 29, respectively; so that, when current is passed through the solenoid windin 26, the rack 32 will be moved to the le t, (Fig. 3) and when the current is passed through the solenoid winding 29, the rack 32 will be moved to the right. A double acting dash pot 33, actuated by a bell crank lever 34 engaging the rack 32, retards the movement of the rack.

A gear wheel 35 meshes with the teeth of the rack 32, so as to be rotated thereby in one direction or the other accordin to the direction of movement of the rack. The gear wheel 35 is operatively connected with the arm 36 of a rheostat 37. The rheostat 37 is connected in the field circuit of the motor M in such a manner that when the arm 36 is rocked in a clockwise direction, resistance will be cut out of the field of the motor M, while, when the arm is rocked in a contra: clockwise direction, resistance will be inserted into the field circuit.

As has been said, the gearin between the motor shaft M and the vertical shaft 12, and the dimensions of the pendulum P are chosen so that the pendulum brush P will swing into and out of the space between the arms 14, without making contact either with the strips 15 or the strips 16, when the motor shaft M is rotating synchronously with the pendulum. When, however, the speed of the motor shaft M increases, the relative position of the pendulum brush P with relation to the arms 14 will change, and one or more of the contact strips 15 will make contact with the brush 1 during the swinging of the latter. When such contact is made the relay 21 is actuated, as described above, and the solenoid winding 26 energized, the result being that the rack 32 is moved to the left and resistance cut out of the field of the motor M. By reason of the decrease in the field resistance, the motor will slow down. In the same way, when the speed of the motor shaft M falls below the normal, one or more of the contact strips 16 will make connection with the pendulum brush P during the swinging of the latter; and, when such contact is made, the relay 24 will be actuated, causing the encrgization of the solenoid winding 29, the result being that the rack 32 is moved to the right, and resistance inserted in the field circuit of the motor M. The increase of the resistance of the field circuit of the motor results in an increase of the speed of the motor shaft M. The motor shaft M is thus maintained in synchronism, as to operations performed in a given time, with the pendulum P.

While I have described one form which my invention may conveniently take, I wish it understood that changes may be made in the embodiment shown and described; and, especially that other means than the relays and solenoids described above may, if desired, be employed for effecting the actuation of the rheostat. Moreover, in place of the pendulum, other reciprocating or intermittently acting mechanism may be used, such for instance as a revolving arm carrying a contact, or the like. These and other changes are contemplated by me, and are within the scope of my invention.

What I claim is 1. A synchronizing device comprising a driving mechanism, a governing mechanism, and means for maintaining said driving mechanism in synchronism, as to operations performed in a given time, with said governing mechanism, said means including a pair of rotating contacts disposed so as to face in opposite directions of rotation and associated with one of said mechanisms, another contact, means, associated with the other mechanism for moving said last-named contact into and out of the path of said firstnained contacts, and an electrical device, connected between said first-named contacts and said second-named contact, for effecting the acceleration, or retardation, of said dri"- ing mechanism if said second-named contact strikes one or the other, respectively, of said first-named contacts.

2. A synchronizing device comprising a driving shaft, a governing mechanism, and means for maintaining said drivin shaft in synchronism, as to operations per ormed in a given time, with said governing mechanism, said means including a spindle associated with. said shaft and carrying a plurality of radially-extending arms, two sets of contacts carried by said arms on opposite faces thereof, a reciprocating contact associated with said governing mechanism, means for moving said reciprocating contact into and out of the path of said arms, and an electrical device, connected between said first-named contacts and said reciprocating contact, for effecting the acceleration, or retardation, of said driving shaft if said reciprocating contact strikes one set or the other, respectively, of said first-named contacts.

3. A synchronizing device comprising a driving shaft, a governing mechanism, and means for maintaining said driving shaft in synchronism, as to operations performed in a given time, with said governing mechanism, said means including a spindle associated with said driving shaft and carrying a plurality of arms, two sets of contacts carried by said arms on opposite sides thereof,

a pendulum associated with said governing mechanism and disposed with a portion thereof in the path of said arms, a contact carried by said pendulum, and an electrical device, connected between said first-named contacts and said pendulum contact, for effecting the acceleration, or retardation, of said driving shaft if said pendulum contact strikes one set or the other, respectively, of said first-named contacts.

4. A synchronizing device comprising a rotatably mounted arm, means for driving said arm, an electrical contact carried by said arm, an oscillating member, a contact actuated thereby and movable into and out of the path of said first contact, and means controlled by said contacts whereby said driving means are kept in synchronism with said oscillating member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

WM. B. JACKSON.

Witnesses:

BERT H. PECK, E. R. KING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner or latentl. Washington. D. 0. 

